Gloria F. Tarr

Gloria F. Tarr

GLORIA FRANCES TARR (née Appello), age 100, went home peacefully to God on September 3, 2021.

Born August 5, 1921 to Vincent and Mamie Appello (née Ciancaglini) in South Philadelphia, she was the youngest of six children. Gloria was a devout parishioner at St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia since 1952, and a proud member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for fifty years. Gloria enjoyed many activities throughout life. Very early she learned the art of sewing from her father, a tailor, to create her own clothes. At age 19 she earned her license to work as an “Operator in a Beauty Shop,” an occupation later known as Cosmetologist. She was employed at a hairdressing salon at Gimbel’s Department Store in Center City Philadelphia until marrying at age 31 to devote herself as a loving wife and mother to three sons.

After the boys were sufficiently grown, she held a series of part time jobs at beauty shops within or near her neighborhood, and frequently provided hairdressing services at her home to relatives and friends at minimal or no charge. She was an avid bowler for many years who liked to create needlepoint products to give to acquaintances. Gloria’s acute fashion sense and tastefully varied wardrobe made her always appear elegant in public. She was forever loyal and compassionate to family and friends, going to great lengths to help anyone who needed or requested assistance. She loved animals, forging close bonds with a variety of pets from early childhood through her adult years.

Gloria was predeceased by dear husband John Robert Tarr; brothers Joseph Appello, Vincent Appello and Andrew Appello; sisters Marie Appello and Helen Roche; and longtime companion Joseph L. Samanns. She is survived by sons John Justin Tarr of Glenside PA, Laurence Gregory Tarr of East Greenville PA, and Christopher David Tarr of Hendersonville TN; nephew Thomas Roche; niece Patricia Mescanti; great nephews Thomas Roche, James Roche, Michael Roche, Stephan Mescanti, William Mescanti and Damian Mescanti; great-nieces Theresa Gallagher and Stasia Mescanti; and many other nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Thursday, September 9, 2021 from 9:15 to 10:15 AM at St. Matthew’s R. C. Church, 3000 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19149 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM, interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery, Roslyn PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in remembrance of Gloria Tarr to: Catholic Daughters of the Americas, C/O St. Dominic’s Church, 8504 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136. Donation checks may be payable to "Catholic Daughters of the Americas"



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